The Impact Agenda

In this episode, we're joined by Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO of Luminary, a global professional development and high-touch networking platform dedicated to uplifting and upskilling women and allies throughout their careers. Before launching Luminary in 2018, Cate spent 15 years in senior leadership roles in financial services, most recently as Global Head of Multinational Corporate Banking at HSBC and previously as a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan. 

We dive into how Cate leads a team of 25 and has grown Luminary through partnerships with major companies and through acquisitions, including The Cru in 2023 and HeyMama, a membership-based community of entrepreneurial and working moms. Cate walks us through everything the platform offers, from 20+ events a month to peer coaching, how she built credibility to land corporate partnerships, and how she keeps a global community feeling local and supportive. We also explore the story behind the Glass Ceiling Rooftop, how she measures the return on community, and where she sees Luminary heading in the next five years.

Whether you're an early-career listener navigating a traditional industry like finance or tech, curious about building a community-driven business, or wondering how to find the right network for your career stage, this episode offers an inside look at a standout woman building the future of professional networking.

In this episode, we're joined by May Chen-Contino, CEO, and Allison Nixon, Chief Research Officer, of Unit 221B, a women-led threat disruption company delivering actionable intelligence and cybersecurity solutions to enterprises, law enforcement, and government agencies. May has spent her career in cybersecurity and tech at Fortune 500 and VC-backed companies including eBay, PayPal, and Forter. Allison is a renowned investigator known for her original research on DDoS attribution, cybercrime attribution, and criminal communities.

Together, they lead a team of ~30 that works with the top 10 banks, more than 50 of the Fortune 500, the DoD, and federal law enforcement. We dive into how Unit 221B grew from a boutique, services-only firm into a startup-style team with its own technology. May and Allison walk us through how they solve cybercrimes from start to finish, including the case of ShinyHunters. We also explore the profiles of the criminals behind these attacks and how many of the same actors target young women. 

Whether you're curious about cybersecurity, passionate about tech for social good, or wondering how today's biggest hacks actually get solved, this episode offers an inside look at the standout women fighting cybercrime.

In this episode, we sit down with Jodi Linker, the first woman to lead the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Northern District of California—one of the most storied defender offices in the country. With nearly two decades of experience and a team of over 70 attorneys, Jodi represents people who can’t afford legal counsel in federal court, taking on cases that span drug offenses, immigration, fraud, firearms, and more. She shares how her office navigates the unique challenges of San Francisco, a city grappling with homelessness, inequality, and shifting political winds.

We explore the ethics of defense work, what it means to lead with integrity in a high-pressure system, and the limits—and possibilities—of individual advocacy within a deeply flawed structure. Jodi reflects on moments with clients that have reshaped her understanding of justice, and speaks candidly about the future of federal public defense, structural reform, and what it truly means to give back. Whether you're in the legal field or just curious about the intersection of justice, leadership, and impact, this episode offers a powerful look at what it means to fight for fairness when the odds are stacked.

In this episode, we’re joined by Akshaya Dinesh, a self-taught engineer, Thiel Fellow, and two-time exited founder now exploring AI as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Bain Capital Ventures. After dropping out of Stanford, Akshaya went on to found Nova, a Gen Z professional network, and Spellbound, a no-code platform for interactive email experiences—both of which were successfully acquired. She shares the inflection points that shaped her journey, from coding through 45+ hackathons to teaching over 600 girls through Girls Make Apps.

We dive into her current obsession with consumer health, her work on a new companion app for women with PCOS, and what excites her most about the intersection of healthcare and AI. Akshaya also reflects on her experience as a scout and angel investor, how young founders should evaluate fellowships and accelerators, and why being in San Francisco still fuels her creativity. Whether you’re just starting out or already building, this episode offers an energizing look into what it means to create with intention—and keep evolving with curiosity.

In this episode, we’re joined by Steven Kelts, a lecturer at Princeton’s School of Public and International Affairs and the Department of Computer Science, where he leads the university’s groundbreaking “Integrated Ethics” program. With a background that spans academia, nonprofit leadership, and tech industry advising, Steven’s work focuses on preparing the next generation of technologists to anticipate the real-world impact of their innovations—and to lead with responsibility and care.

We explore the origins of his popular Tech Ethics course, the development of his Agile Ethics framework, and why grounding all students—not just those in STEM—in ethical thinking is more urgent than ever. Steven shares insights on the most pressing dilemmas in AI and emerging technologies, the policy shifts needed to keep pace with innovation, and why students themselves give him hope. Whether you're a technologist, policymaker, or simply tech-curious, this is a thoughtful, funny, and inspiring conversation on how we can shape a more ethical future for technology—and for ourselves.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jessica Millstone, a leading expert in educational technology and founder of Copper Wire Ventures, an early-stage fund investing in women-led tech companies shaping the future of learning and work. With over 20 years of experience building edtech products at BrainPOP, Sesame Workshop, and Common Sense Media—as well as years in the classroom—Jessica shares how her background as both an educator and product strategist uniquely informs her investment lens today.

We dive into what it means to support mission-driven founders at the pre-seed stage, how Jessica navigates the balance between impact and financial return, and why edtech remains one of the trickiest markets to break into—especially for parents and schools. She offers insights on emerging trends in digital literacy, online safety, and AI in education, and reflects on the founder stories that have most inspired her since launching Copper Wire. If you're curious about the future of learning, building in edtech, or investing in women-led ventures, this episode is packed with thoughtful takeaways.

In this episode, we’re joined by Jaclyn Seow, Senior Advisor and former Executive Director and Head of ESG at Openspace Ventures, a leading Southeast Asian VC firm with over US$800M in committed capital. Before moving into venture capital, Jaclyn spent over a decade in Singapore’s public sector, shaping national policy across the Ministries of Law, Health, and Foreign Affairs. She shares insights from representing Singapore at the United Nations and reflects on the power—and limitations—of policymaking within a high-efficiency government system.

We explore Jaclyn’s pivot to venture capital, where she led Openspace’s industry-recognized ESG practice and portfolio operations team. She discusses what it means to pursue a more responsible form of capitalism in Asia, how to balance profit with purpose, and the cultural and market forces that uniquely shape ESG across the region. With experience spanning public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Jaclyn offers a rare, systems-level view of what it takes to drive sustainable impact—and why collaboration across sectors is key to building an inclusive future.

In this episode, we sit down with Shahd Asaly, a sociologist, writer, and founder of Blue Meets Blue, a humanitarian fashion label employing refugee women and preserving Syrian textile heritage. Shahd’s work sits at the intersection of fashion activism, trauma research, and cultural preservation. A PhD candidate studying collective trauma and displacement, she shares how her academic research and personal experiences—growing up Syrian-American post-9/11—shaped her vision to create a brand rooted in healing, dignity, and storytelling.

Shahd opens up about the early days of building Blue Meets Blue through refugee resettlement centers, the deep influence of Syrian identity and Islamic heritage on her work, and how art, design, and employment can become tools for recovery after trauma. We explore her reflections on the recent fall of the Assad regime, her new consultancy Sawt Corp, and what’s next for Blue Meets Blue as it prepares for a 2026 relaunch. From humanitarian fashion to academic research to children’s books, Shahd invites us to imagine a future where we respond to pain not with fear, but with justice, creativity, and care.

In this episode, we sit down with Andrew Ackerman, a serial entrepreneur turned early-stage investor who’s backed over 70 startups and led innovation efforts across industries. Andrew is currently Strategic Advisor and Head of REACH Labs at Second Century Ventures, and has held roles ranging from Managing Director at Dreamit Ventures—where he launched edtech and urbantech accelerators—to COO of a summer camp platform and Head of Product at Kaplan. He shares how he’s navigated a dynamic career, made smart pivots, and leveraged each opportunity to grow his impact across entrepreneurship, education, and investment.

We dive into his work with Dreamit Access and Dreamit Athena supporting underrepresented founders, demystify the angel investing landscape, and explore the practical wisdom behind his newly published book The Entrepreneur’s Odyssey—a startup manual wrapped in a novel. Andrew also reflects on the lessons he’s learned about capital raising, technical and financial skills, and using writing as a tool to drive change in the innovation ecosystem. If you’re curious about building, investing, or simply making bold career moves, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, we’re joined by Fiona Wilson, CEO of Earthwatch Australia, an environmental NGO that brings people and science together to protect and restore nature. Fiona leads a team delivering award-winning programs like ClimateWatch, MangroveWatch, Kids Teaching Kids, and Bush Blitz across Australia and the Pacific. With a background in higher education and philanthropy, she brings a unique lens to climate leadership—building partnerships that unite Indigenous Rangers, scientists, corporate leaders, and young people to tackle biodiversity loss and climate change through research-based, community-led action.

Fiona shares stories from the field, including a recent expedition to Burketown with Indigenous Rangers from Australia, Alaska, and New Zealand. We dive into the realities of leading in the NGO space, and how to navigate the balance between purpose and burnout. Whether you’re passionate about climate action, curious about careers in the nonprofit sector, or looking for hope and direction in uncertain times, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.